I fine it unfortunate Don Winter has not found the instrument that
would satisfy his needs [021113 MMDigest].  I have been in the
solenoid player industry since the Pianocorder first appeared.
The family business was a retail store and tuning and service.
I have witnessed many American piano makers close.  I have
experienced the keyboard sale diminishing acoustic sales.  As
a tuner technician I have to work at keeping the flow of customers
to support a livelihood.

On the question from Robbie, I can offer some numbers from a
publication, "Music Trades".  This is a magazine for music retailers
(music@musictrades.com).  The publication is April 2002, Vol. 150,
No. 3.  The total sales in 2001 of player pianos shows 9,470 units
There is not a breakdown of PianoDisc, QRS, and Yamaha.

In my past work experience as a service rep for PianoDisc, I can
only estimate.  Yamaha, in the past, would hold about 1/2 these
sales.  The interesting fact is that Yamaha player units are twice the
wholesale price as for PianoDisc and QRS [Pianomation].  Don Winter
should consider the fact that solenoid player sale have, since the
early 1990s, held a major portion of acoustic piano sales.

If history is studied, the acoustic piano sales today are 1/4 of the
sales reported in period from 1900-1940.  I have also noticed the sales
of high quality pianos have increased because of player sales.  Over
the years I have installed solenoid players, my experience has been
that only 10% of the customers hand-play the instrument.

As a rebuilder I would agree with Don on a older rebuilt instrument
being a better musical investment.  As a technician I can only justify
time and money on high quality grands, e.g., Steinway, Mason & Hamlin,
Boesendorfer, Beckstein and some others.  In my opinion the hobby of
pneumatic players can not be compared to the retail sales of today.

Don Dusenbury